on the topic of disabled characters, though, i think a LOT of artists give characters mobility aids that their character wouldn't actually benefit from using.
i'm sort of having a mild brain fog moment rn so i can't fully articulate what i'm on about, but i think a lot of able-bodied artists view things like canes and crutches as interchangeable. and they often don't know enough about the wide range of mobility aids to make an informed decision about what their character might actually use based on their disability
i also think that aids like walkers and rollators are sort of viewed as "cringe" on some level, and many people view them to be "just for old people," so many artists will opt for giving a character who has full-body pain and fatigue a cane (which, in many cases, can potentially WORSEN full-body pain) instead. and a lot of people don't realize that most wheelchair users are able to walk, so they don't consider it an option for characters with chronic pain
idk it's kind of frustrating. i've genuinely never, ever seen a character that uses a rollator before. not once. i cannot name a single one. i know of multiple ocs who are described to have full-body pain, dizziness, and fatigue that are drawn as cane users and are never shown with wheelchairs or walkers, though
it's also sort of sad? i've been diagnosed since i was twelve years old, and i only heard of rollators LAST YEAR. and that was only because i saw one irl and immediately asked what it was. i wonder how many disabled people out there don't even know it's an option solely because they're completely underrepresented online and in media
if you're a creative with a disabled oc, PLEASEEE check out this link. it's a very nice and detailed guide for telling which mobility aids suit someone's needs best. it's incredibly important to make the right choice for your character! mobility aids tell you a LOT about someone's lived experience. picking the right one will communicate to your audience #1 what your character goes through #2 that you UNDERSTAND what your character goes through!
fully agree w this post as some1 who only found out abt mobility buggys very recently and getting 1 has been genuinely life changing (in a good way!)
but i do think a big part of the reason that i had never heard of them b4 outside of pediatrics is bc of it being seen as "cringe" or "weird" 4 adults 2 use them, the mobility buggys i could find were all 4 children and teens and im kinda just lucky that im abt the size of an average teen despite being an adult, so i think this also goes into not only representation and awareness of different mobility aids but also what mobility aids r widely made, like even finding a mobility buggy online at all let alone 1 that fit my measurements was a genuinely rly stressful experience that i nearly gave up on
haven't checked the link myself bc i already managed 2 find my perfect mobility aid but i do agree w op that its genuinely a problem that some mobility aids r seen as "cringe" and not talked abt or represented at all and that there's also ppl representing mobility aids w no idea what those r helpful 4 and therefore misinforming ppl abt medical devices
